From learning to not rinse your pasta after draining, to using a garbage bowl, you could start a spreadsheet of cooking tips and never run out of ideas. Some cooking tips are so simple that once you learn one you can’t imagine how you used to get through a recipe. That’s why I made this list. Memorize these tips and I guarantee your next meal will be a smashing success.

  • Read the whole recipe first

I’ll say this until the cows come home. If you’re cooking from a recipe, the best tip I can give you is to read through the whole thing all the way through before you start to cook. Not only will this help you gain a better understanding of what the final dish should look and taste like, you’ll also be able to ascertain which pots, pans, and tools you need, as well as catch important instructions like “marinate overnight.”

  • Set up mise en place

Mise en place is a French term that literally means “put in place.” It also refers to a way cooks in professional kitchens and restaurants set up their work stations—first by gathering all ingredients for a recipes, partially preparing them (like measuring out and chopping), and setting them all near each other. Setting up mise en place before cooking is another top tip for home cooks, as it seriously helps with organization. It’ll pretty much guarantee you never forget to add an ingredient and save you time from running back and forth from the pantry ten times.

  • Use the freezer for more than leftovers

You already know that you can stash leftovers in the freezer basically forever. But if you make room in your freezer, it can also house a number of items that will make your life easier. Frozen ginger will stay fresh for longer, as well as be easier to grate on a microplane. Tomato paste, stock, and sauces can be frozen into ice cubes and easily defrosted for recipes. You can also freeze cookie and pie dough, egg whites and yolks, and vegetable trimmings (for stock) and use them whenever you need. The freezer is also a prime spot to store a bag of items you intend to compost, as the cold kills the smell and decay.